I have practiced pharmacy in the state of Virginia for 21 year.  I have worked retail, hospital, and independant pharmacy.  In my hospital & independant practice, I was given a break for lunch which was 30 minutes.  This break was rather I worked an 8 hour shift or a 12 hour shift.  I have floated for a chain before and a 12 hour day was frequently 15 to 16 hours due to a commute but  in those cases I was fortunate to work for a company which did recognize our need for a time to relax, refresh & recharge ourselves both physically and metally.  It is a long day to stand for 12 hours.  If we are lucky, there is a semi-private place where we can stash a sandwhich a steal a bite or two on the run.  Or if there is an overlap of pharmacists or two on duty, they take turns letting the other get a break.  Our technicians have been known to get a 15 min break and a 30 min lunch.  While the propsed petion will definitely benefit the pharmacists of the state of Virginia, I do think the people we will help the most are our patients.  They have put their faith, trust, health and safety in our hands.  As the most respected profession, we need to continue to be able to deliver the best care to them.  It is my believe that a refreshed, alert, and  rested pharmacist can deliver better health care to our patients.  Errors, while infrequent, do occur and are more likely to occur when we are overworked, understaffed, and just plain exhausted mentally and physically.  I support this petition and respectfully ask for your deepest consideration.